Japan approves drug that kills flu virus in a day

Shionogi says its new drug, Xofluza, can kill the flu virus in one day. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Friday gave fast-track approval to sell the drug. Photo by Claus Rebler/Flickr

Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on Friday approved a new drug the company claims will kill the flu virus in one day.

Shionogi received fast-track approval to begin immediately selling Xofluza in Japan, but the pill might not be available before May because a price hasn't been set, the company told The Wall Street Journal.

Japanese regulators considered data from a first late-stage trial in making their decision. Xofluza, which was developed in 2015, is the first drug to be approved through the fast-track review system, the Nikkei Asian Review reported.

Shionogi and Switzerland's Roche, which has the rights to sell the drug outside Japan, including the United States, are in final stages of a second late-stage trial. They plan to file for U.S. approval after the second trial.

Xofluza and Tamiflu took just as long to entirely contain flu symptoms. Besides offering faster relief, Shionogi said its drug reduces its contagious effects, including prevention of the rapid spread of infection to others.

Several other companies -- Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca PLC and a Merck & Co.-backed startup -- are testing new compounds to treat influenza A, the most common flu strain that infects humans.

The new Japanese drug can also treat influenza B strains, the company said.